Cage getting taxman off his back

London - Nicolas Cage has paid off $600,000 towards his massive tax debt.

The actor is slowly paying back the $13 million he owes in back taxes after splurging on extortionate purchases between 2004 and 2009, TMZ is reporting.

However, he still owes about $6 million thanks to his love of expensive gadgets, despite already paying off $6,257,005 in April.

The actor filed a lawsuit against his former business manager Sam Levin in 2009 claiming he had led him "down a path of financial ruin".

Nicolas once splashed out $276,000 on a 67-million-year-old dinosaur skull, outbidding Leonardo DiCaprio to get his hands on the unique prehistoric artefact.

He also owns a jet, two yachts, three castles, two islands in the Bahamas and several mansions.

The 48-year-old actor - who is currently filming superhero comedy 'Kick-Ass 2' - had already been forced to sell his extensive comic book collection in 1997 for $1.6 million.

The 'National Treasure' star confessed in 2010: "Over the course of my career I have paid at least $70 million in taxes. Unfortunately, due to a recent legal situation, another approximate $14 million is owed to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), however, I am under new business management and am happy to say that I am current for 2009.

"All taxes will be paid including any to be determined state taxes." - Bang Showbiz